Scioto: Secrets Ilia, Blue Ranger collect Ohio Sires Stakes victories

Secrets Ilia got back to her winning ways on Tuesday (August 25) in Ohio Sires Stakes action for 2-year-old filly trotters at Eldorado Scioto Downs, setting a new lifetime mark of 1:53 4/5.

Brett Miller got Secrets Ilia away third off the gate while Missredwhitenblue (Austin Hanners) took the field to the 27 3/5 opening quarter. Going into the second turn, Secrets Ilia pulled first-up as the leader tripped the half-mile beam in 56 seconds. Midway down the backside, Secrets Ilia cleared to the top, then took the field past the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters. Coming home in 28 1/5, Secrets Ilia won by a length and a half over Made For More (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.); Shinie T (Aaron Merriman) was third.

It was the fourth win in six lifetime starts for Secrets Ilia, a daughter of Long Tom out of the CJ's Secret mare CJ's Super Secret. A $28,000 Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Mose Yoder, Secrets Ilia now has $118,750 earned for trainer Micah Miller and owners Wayne Mast Jr. and Callam Racing.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

The other division was won by Blue Ranger, a full sister to Hambletonian runner-up Big Ranger, in 1:54 1/5.

Rose Run Cybill (Kurt Sugg) took the field to the 27 3/5 opening quarter, but Envious Queen (David Miller) quickly took over and sent the field towards the 56 3/5 half. Blue Ranger (Wrenn Jr.) sat in fourth until the field straightened out on the backside when the filly came first-up. She moved forward to get just off the leader's wheel as Envious Queen got to the three-quarters in 1:25 1/5. From there, Blue Ranger posted a 28 3/5 final kicker to win by a length and a half under a hand-drive. Rose Run Cybill came up the passing lane to be second with Envious Queen third.

It was the maiden victory in the third start for Blue Ranger, who comes from the Marcus Melander stable for owner Bender Sweden. A $210,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from Spring Haven Farm, Blue Ranger, by In Range and out of the Tactical Landing mare Big Blue Bird, now has $43,500 in earnings.

Live racing at Scioto continues Thursday, Friday and Saturday, each with a 16-race card starting at 5:25 p.m. (EDT). Thursday's card includes two $75,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters; Friday's card two divisions of OHSS for 3-year-old filly pacers and on Saturday there are two OHSS divisions each of 2-year-old male and filly pacers and three divisions of 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

--press release (Scioto)--